During 2016/2017, the 16 practices in the Upper Lea Valley locality participated in and led a number of projects to improve the health and wellbeing of their patients including:

Forever ActiveThe Upper Lea Valley locality also supports the ‘Forever Active’ programme and classes are provided in towns and villages across the area. For example in Watton at Stone, residents aged over 50 have a choice of four different classes (table tennis, bowls, archery and tai chi/yoga) in their local village hall. All classes are aimed at beginners and have friendly helpful coaches.

All areas have a volunteer coordinator who meets and greets participants and records attendance. This is essential to the sustainability of the classes after funding ends in October 2018.

ECG screeningDuring the winter, practices undertook pulse and ECG screening to identify patients with atrial fibrillation – an erratic heart rate which can increase the risk of strokes. Between October 2016 and January 2017, more than 10,500 patients who attended for flu vaccination were screened resulting in around 30 new cases being identified and treated.

Making time for care9 practices across Upper Lea Valley together with 3 practices from Stort Valley and Villages participated in NHS England’s ‘Productive General Practice Programme’.

The focus is on fast, easy to implement ideas to help reduce pressures and release efficiencies within general practices. Practices benefited from hands-on support over an eight week period in their practice, plus four group-based learning sessions with other local practices. This has helped to:

Create headspace for practices to work through current/ future pressures

Empower clinicians and staff to identify and strip out wasteful activities

Provide a practical way of demonstrating value to practice members

Release more time within practices

Solve real operational headaches for practices

Make real and lasting change that benefits both practice staff and patients

Build improvement confidence

Wallace House practice in Hertford took the lead in participating in the ‘workflow optimisation’ programme which is another aspect of the programme and benefited greatly from this. The remaining practices across the CCG will participate in this programme in the coming year.